Braking system



T. L. SHERMAN BRAKING SYSTEM Oct. 4, 1949.

2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1945 INVENTQR 7770mm; L. dike/mar? p. v ATTORNEYS 7 1949. T. L. SHERMAN Q 2,483,941

BRAKING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 19, 1945 v 2 sheets-Sheet 2 4 r W/IIIIIIIIIIJA INVENTQR 5 0 45 L :Aermam 77K A ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 4, 1949 BRAKING SYSTEM Thomas L. Sherman, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to The Steel Products Engineering Company, Springfield, Ohio, a'corporation of Ohio Application February 19, 1945 Serial No. 578,594

This invention relates to braking systems for use in conjunction with internal combustion engmes.

As is well known,'it is common to increase the braking effect in a motor vehicle by shifting the drive to second or first speed andusing the motoring over of the engine'as a brake. This results in turning over the engine at relatively high speeds. The braking effect secured in this way is of comparatively small magnitude and insuflicient for heavy vehicles.

In the case of Diesel-or other heavy duty engines, the increase in speed due to the gearing is objectionable because of the heavier construction of the reciprocating parts. The inertia loadings which may be safely imposed on these engines limit maximum rotative speeds. When motor vehicles powered by such engines are making long descents it is therefore desirable to avoid the necessity of objectionablyspeeding up the engine to increase its braking effect. It is also frequently found that if the engine is allowed to cool off in making such a descent, itmay be quite difficult to start the power-operation of the engine when desired. g

In two cycle engines it, iszusual to couple an air compressing or blowing unit to the .engineeither directly or indirectly, the compressed air being conducted to the cylinders for scavenging This invention has for its salient object to provide means for developing a highly effective braking effect in an engine and particularly an engine of the two cycle type whichis smooth and uniform in its action, which does not require operation of the engine at an objectionably high speed and which is readily controllable.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for increasing the brakingeffect of engines having directly connected blowers or compressing units and particularly of engines of the two cycle type. M p I Another object of the invention is to increase the efiiciency of the engine afterthe engine has been used as a brake and to maintain the engine sufficiently heated so that power'operation may be resumed when desired without delay.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View partly in sec L tion of an internal combustion engine and illustrating a brake lever connected to a valve in the engine for developing and controlling the braking effect on the engine;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of another type of engine having incorporated therein valve mechanism for increasing the braking effect of the engine, the valve inthis view being positioned to control thepassage of air from the 4 Claims. (01.123-58) compression cylinder leading to the engine cylinders for scavenging and charging purposes. This view is taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2

5 but showing the valve in position to open the passage for the air from the inlet chamber into the compression cylinder;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the valve.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, there is shown an internal combustion engine E which may be a two cycle or four cycle engine, but is preferably a two cycle Diesel type engine. An air pump In is mounted on one end of the engine casing and is driven by power derived from the engine shaft being suitably direct connected thereto. This pump maybe in the nature of a supercharger for a four cycle engine or in the nature of a scavenge pump cfor a two .cycle engine.

The engine E is provided with a plurality of cylinders, a portion of one cylinder I I being shown in section. The pump I0 is :connected by a cone duit l 2 to an air manifold l 3 which communicates with the cylinders through ports l4 controlled by valves l5 which are operated in the usual manner to admit the air to the cylinders at the proper period in the cycle of operation thereof.

A valve, such as the butterfly valve 20, is mounted in the conduit l2 and controls the passage of air from the pump II] to the cylinders. A lever 2| is connected to the valve spindle 22 and is connected by a link 23 to a lever 24 of the usual brake lever construction. The lever 24 is secured to a spindle 25 which is preferably connected in the usual well known manner to operate the vehicle brakes.

When the lever 24 is operated to throw on the brakes the butterfly valve 20 will be rotated to close or, if desired, to partially close the passage through the conduit I 2 and thus obstruct the passage of air through the conduit to the cylinders. This obstruction will obviously build up a back pressure on the pump, thus requiring an increase in the torque necessary to rotate the pump. Since engine and pump are directly connected to the wheels of the vehicle the braking effect on the same will be determined by the pressures against which the compressor pump It has to operate.

In order to prevent excessive air pressures in the pump a relief valve 30 is mounted on the conduit l2. This valve is disposed in a chamber 3| having outlet openings or ends 32 and having a port 33 which is normally closed by the valve 30. A spring 34 retains the valve in closed position. The port 33 communicates with the conduit l2. In addition to obtaining a braking effect by the operation of. the throttle valve 20 in the conduit I 2, the air will be heated due to a higher diametrically opposite position with reference degree of compression in the scavenge or comto the particular cylinder 52 illustrated and port pressor pump and this heated air will tend to keep H now establishes communication between the the engine pistons warm and permit immediate inlet chamber 58 and the cylinder 52'. In this resumption of normal combustion conditions in, position, communication between the cylinder the engine cylinders when the braking period is and the chamber 53 is blocked off by the valve. over. I Fig. 2 the maximum open position of the In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated. valve 60 relative to the cylinder 52 and the chamin Figs. 2-5 inclusive, there is shown an engine ber' 53 is illustrated, but in this figure there is of the barrel or crankless type comprising a casalso shown in dotand dash lines an adjusted ing 40 having formed therein a plurality of power position of the valve axially inward along shaft cylinders 4|, the drawing illustrating a construc- 42 in which the discharge between the cylinder tion incorporating three power cylinders. 52 and the chamber 53 is restricted and partially shaft 42 is mounted in the engine casing in suitclosed by the valve. Since the compressor pisable bearings and carries a slant or swash plate tons 5| are driven from the shaft 42 it. will be 43', the cylinders 4f being disposed symmetrically evident that the. adjustment of the valve to the about and parallel to the shaft 42. position shown in dot and dash lines which re- In Fig. 2 the engine illustrated in an opposed stricts the passage oi the air from the cylinder piston two cycle engine, the pistons in the cylin- 52 to the chamber 53", will produce a greater der M being illustrated at 4'4 and 45. The power back pressure on the piston 51 thereby increaspiston M has secured thereto a yoke or bridge in the force required to reciprocate the piston 45 which carries pivotally mounted slipper bearit on. its compression stroke and increasing the in elements 41 and 48 which engage the oppobraking effect to be obtained by using. the comsite faces of the slant 43 and communicate the pressor pump as a brakereciprocating motion of the piston to the slant 25 The cubic displacement of the pump is ordiby which this reciprocating motion is converted narily substantially in excess (about 150%) of into rotary motion. that of. the main engine in order to provide for Ehe yoke it has secured thereto a rod 50 on proper scavenging thereof, and hence it is eviwhich is mounted a piston 5| which is disposed dent. that there is adequate capacity todevelop a in an air compression or pump cylinder 52.. 0 highly effective braking action. The rotary These pump cylinders are arranged coaxially valve always provides'for. unrestricted supply with the respective power cylinders. A central of air to the pump on. the intake stroke so that chamber 53 is formed in the casing and is centhe cylinders: are properly filled in turn, and. detrally disposed relative to the cylinders 52. The pending upon its axial position of adjustment, chamber 53 has discharge ports 54 which are provides a greater or less resistance and hence connected by suitable conduits 55- to the scavenge braking action. Movement of the valve is readily chamber thence through ports 53A to cylinders eiiected under manual or other suitable control, 4i. Air is alternately compressed in the cylinthe increased fluid pressures developed under der 52 and discharged from the same through 40 high braking loads not being eiiective in such; conduits and air ducts 55' into scavenge cham direction: as to materially restrict the freedom ber 56. of adiustment of the valve.

Each pump cylinder has a fixed port or passage The work. absorbed in compressing the air is 51 which is adapted to communicate alternately largely conv rted i t h'gattwhi h results in with an air inlet chamber 531 and with the cheming its temperature. This temperature will be reber 53. The communication between the por duced by i e-expansion butthere will remain some or passages 5'! and the air intake or the air substantial preheating of the air supplied as discharge chamber is controlled by means of a scavenging'air to the cylinders. It will be evident rotary valve 50 which is slidably mounted onthat since air is continuously delivered by the and keyed or splined at 64 to the shaft 42. The 6 pump past the restricting valve to chamber valve 59 is meunted. on the shaft by means of 53 and into the engine cylinders during the its hub 63- which engages a spring 64.. The braking period, normal compression of the air spring bears at the other end against a collar charge within the engine cylinders will not be 65, and so tends to hold the valve to the left in interrupted. The engine pistons will therefore the position illustrated in Fig. 2 in which it 5 remain in heated condition and the engine may ensures normal operation of the pump for promptly be restored to normal power operation scavenging and charging purposes. The posiupon supply of fuel thereto, thus avoiding the diftion of the valve longitudinally of the shaft is ficulty in restarting which may occur when the under manual control and is determined by a engine is allowed to cool off.

rod 65 which can be moved longitudinally in Q0 While the forms of apparatus herein described any suitable manner as by a lever (not shown), constitute preferred embodiments of the inventhe rod at its inner end engaging a flange or tion, it is to be understood that the invention is collar 61 which is carried by a bearing 68 which not limited to these precise formsof apparatus, surrounds the hub 63 and engages a flange 6 and that changes may be made therein without thereon. departing from the scopeof the invention which The rotary valve W, as illustrated in the draw i d fi d i th appended claims' ings, is provided with ports in positions 10 and What i clai d i ll appr at y d ame r a y pp t In I. An engine system comprising a. shaft, a plu- 2 the port 10 is in Position establishing rality of power cylinders, pistons in said power munication between the cylinder 52 and the dis- (0 cylinders, operative driving connections between charge chamber 53 so that the outward stroke of said pistons and s id haft, n: cumpression y]- DiStOII 5| Will cause air o be d scharged to charm: inders, pistons in said air compression cylinders ber 53 thence by air duct 55 to e gm yl r operably connected with. said shaft, means for ports 56. c conducting heated air from each of. said com In Fig. 3 the valve to has been rotated to a 7 pression cylindersto each of said power cylinders,

said heated compressed air serving to heat said power cylinders when not working under power valve means in said conducting means for controlling the admission of air to and the discharge of air from said air compression cylinders, and means for manually adjusting said valve means to restrict the dimensions of the discharge outlet from each of said air compression cylinders to impose a load upon said shaft.

2. An engine system comprising a shaft, a plurality of power cylinders disposed around and parallel to said shaft, pistons in said power cylinders, operative driving connections between said pistons and said shaft, air compression cylinders arranged in substantially coaxial relation with the respective power cylinders, pistons in said air compression cylinders operabiy connected with said shaft, means for conducting heated air from each of said compression cylinders to each of said power cylinders, said heated compressed air serving to heat said power cylinders when not worln'ng under power, rotary valve means in said conducting means for controlling the admission of air to and the discharge of air from said air compression cylinders, and means for manually adjusting said valve means to restrict the dimensions of the discharge outlet from each of said air compression cylinders to impose a load upon said shaft.

3. An engine system comprising a shaft, a pl rality of power cylinders, pistons in said power cylinders, operative driving connections between said pistons and said shaft, air compression cylinders, pistons in said air compression cylinders operably connected with said shaft, means for conducting heated air from each of said compression cylinders directly to each of said power cylinders, said heated compressed air servin to heat said power cylinders when not working under power rotary valve means in said conducting means for controlling the admission of air to and the discharge of air from said air compression cylinders, means mounting said valve for longitudinal movement, and means for longitudinally adjusting said valve means to vary the dimensions of the discharge outlet from each of said air compression cylinders to impose a braking load upon said shaft.

l. An engine system comprising a shaft, a plurality of power cylinders arranged with their parallel with said shaft, pistons in said cylinders, driving connections between the pistons and shaft including a swash plate, air compression cylinders also arranged with their axes parallel with said shaft, pistons in said air compression cylinders, driving connections for said air compression pistons including said swash plate, means for conducting heated air from each of said compression cylinders directly to each of said power cylinders, said heated compressed air serving to heat said power cylinders when not working under power rotary valve means in said conducting means on said shaft for controlling the ad fission of air to and the discharge of air from each of said air compression cylinders, and means for manually adjusting said valve means to restrict the dimensions of the discharge outlot from each of said air compression cylinders to impose a braking load upon said shaft.

THOMAS L. SHERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 48?,3'76 Chapleau Sept. 30, 1890 660,390 Ogden Oct. 23, 1900 1,553,854 Fornaca -s Sept. 15, 1925 1,565,184 Miller Dec. 8, 1925 1,612,313 Pierce Dec. 28, 1926 1,614,886 Galbreath Jan. 18, 1927 1,786,391 Benjamin Mar. 26, 1929 1,829,780 Beytes et a1. Nov. 3, 1931 1,894,833 Farwell Jan. 10, 1933 1,899,294 Roeder Feb. 28, 1933 2,031,625 Wild et al Feb. 25, 1936 2,141,428 Carroll Dec. 27, 1938 2,215,058 VanMaren Sept. 17, 1940 

